SECRET LIFE OF US
Nationwide study reveals Darwin residents some of the most content
WE ARE a tough lot in the Northern Territory but Darwin residents do it easier than others.
The Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Darwin and Palmerston enjoy the highest quality of life in the state, according to the national Happiness Project
Litchfield, Alice Springs and Wagait on the Cox Peninsula round out the top five areas in the Northern Territory in the all-important quality of life category. The findings are the result of a landmark national research project by Queensland’s Bond University, released exclusively to NewsCorp.
The Happiness Project analysed Census and other publicly available data to measure 540 Australian municipalities across nine key categories affecting quality of life; housing affordability, education, community, jobs, wealth, accessibility, work-life balance, health and safety. Each life area was scored out of 10.
Lead researcher Caroline Graham said Darwin definitely led the NT when it came to health, job opportunities and wealth.
“It falls behind other capitals somewhat when it comes to safety and housing affordability, but it’s got a strong sense of community and enviable work-life balance, so nation wide it holds up as a great place to live,” she said.
Jess Manly lives in an apartment on the edge of the Darwin CBD and Larrakeyah.
She wasn’t surprised to hear Darwin residents were most content with their lives. “I love it up here,” she said. “It’s the lifestyle – it’s so laid-back, no one’s in a rush.”
Ms Manly, who is originally from Melbourne, said one of the things that made Darwin so fantastic was the lack of traffic. “I love that I hear on the radio there’s traffic congestion on McMinn St or at the Parap Rd lights but when I get there it’s just cars sitting at the traffic lights, waiting for them to turn green,” she said.
Living so close to the CBD and working in Woolner, Ms Manly said she loved how close everything was.
“I can walk everywhere,” she said. “I don’t walk to work but in the city you’re just so close to everything. It makes everything easier.”
But the NT did not fare as well overall on the Happiness Project as other states, with remote and very remote communities – especially those with high indigenous populations – experiencing high rates of social, educational and health disadvantage.
“It’s confronting to see how many remote communities are really struggling when it comes to job opportunities, access to services and health,” Ms Graham said.
“When you map out advantage and disadvantage, the story of what’s happening in Central Australia is really clear.”
East Arnhem residents are the Territory’s safest, with the lowest rates of homicide and assault in the NT’s 17 LGAs.
Palmerston had the Territory’s most unaffordable housing, when the costs were weighed against income, home sizes and housing stress, followed by Wagait and Darwin.
Australian demographer Bernard Salt said it was not surprising municipalities near capital cities rated best in the quality of life category.
Quality of life was closely linked to fulfilling employment and good pay, as well as to environmental and lifestyle factors such as being part of a safe, friendly community, Mr Salt said.
While Darwin had the highest quality of life in the nation, LGAs in Victoria were the most content and those in Queensland were the hardest workers.
EDITORIAL P12 (Highest percentages of adults living with a partner) NORTHERN TERRITORY (LGAs with the best volunteering rates)